Dozhdikov A.V. Between Minotaur and Theseus: General Artificial Intelligence and Human Digital Upgrade. Logos. 2025. Vol. 35. No. 4 (167). Pp. 253-273. DOI 10.17323 ...

Abstract

The article is devoted to the socio-philosophical and political problem of creating a “strong” or “general” artificial intelligence (AI) and its possible alternative - the emergence of hybrid human-machine intelligence. Restrictions on the development of AI at the state level, geopolitical sanctions and barriers from competing powers can both slow down the emergence of strong AI for some countries and accelerate it for others for the purpose of using it for militaristic and propaganda purposes, gaining advantages over competitors. Technological difficulties, a shortage of computing resources, social fear of strong AI as an existential threat, inequality of access to AI capabilities, a low level of trust between national and supranational elites open up another promising direction - upgrading an ordinary person to a status comparable in functionality and capabilities to “strong” AI. With a cyborg in the person of a conventional “TheseusRobocop,” it is easier to agree on cooperation due to common values and entrust him with protection from a potentially dangerous strong AI - “Minotaur-Terminator.” These two balancing and complementary technologies will help civilization achieve, if not a state of friendship and mutual assistance within the framework of the concept of technohumanism, then at least “peaceful coexistence.”